Alaska Adventure Day 2

DAY 2

So far I’m admitting to being wrong. We’re halfway (over halfway, actually) through our drive for the day. We’re STILL in Oklahoma. They make states bigger out west, I guess. Anyway, Oklahoma is GORGEOUS. What was I thinking? Oklahoma-ins, Okies, whatever you’d prefer to be called, I apologize profusely.

First, it’s less a plains state than an out-west state. More Texas than Kansas, if you will. So I’ve enjoyed the western feeling. There’s a certain way the wind swishes here that leaves an impression. Maybe that’s why the writers of “Oklahoma” felt the need to mention the wind in their opening song.

Speaking of songs, even though we’re all happier today than yesterday (I credit McDonalds and a hot lunch, personally) we’re a little tired still. Tired enough that everytime we come to a new city/town someone has a song for it and sings it. For example…

I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee.

Livin’ on Tulsa time.

Witchita lineman still on the line.

Or, when we entered a certain area “Cherokee people, Cherokee tribe. So proud to live, so proud to die…”

Amarillo by morning.

Okay, no, we didn’t go through Amarillo. But I had to contribute something, didn’t I? In good news, this whole experience has given me some insight on why my sister and I are unable to converse without song lyrics. It’s obviously hereditary.

We got caught in construction in Tulsa, which made the city name come very close to being banned from our vocabularies as a certain city was yesterday. We missed our turnoff to take the handy turnpike we wanted to take, but it turned out okay. We ended up on a two lane highway that took us through the illustrious town of Barnsdall, which on first glance might look unremarkable. BUT it’s the home of Anita Bryant (I don’t know who she is, but my parents thought it was cool) AND CLARK GABLE! Aka Rhett Butler! You’re going to have to take my word for it, but I cannot see him in this town. Especially—what—seventy or eight years ago? Longer ago than that? Because I’m thinking this town didn’t shrink over time. I think it’s as big as it’s ever been. And I can’t see Rhett being from there. But he is! And so that was super exciting.

With all the quoting that’s been going on and now this talka bout Rhett Butler, I’m sure you’re wondering if his famous line was brought up. Yes, it was quoted. At least, partially quoted. And it would have been wrong if it wasn’t quoted, it’s true.

So with all that excitement behind me, I settled in here at my computer to write down what I was thinking and seeing today to give anyone who’s interested an idea of what our trip has been like.

I’m happily writing away when my hubby decides I need to come see the “wide expanse” of view. I moved up to my front seat (aka the cooler between my dad and John) and we’re looking around, enjoying the view. My thought that this part of Oklahoma is very western is further cemented in my mind as I look at some buttes, creeks, stands of trees, and tall praire grass.

And this is where it starts to get interesting. For me. Noone else really cared, but let me be excited, okay?

We see this pack of horses. Or herd of horses. Whatever. And they’re soooo pretty. So we talk about how not many people keep large herds of horses anymore and I snap a couple pictures. John claims a dapple gray for himself. And I think as I take pictures “Hey, The Pioneer Woman has horses like this and takes gorgeous pictures fo them.” Of course, my pictures of these horses aren’t going to be nearly as good because I’m in a moving RV, but what can you do?

For those of you who don’t get my Pioneer Woman reference, by the way, you should look her up. She’s kind of a rancher’s wife extraordinaire. Homeschools her kids. Cooks. Takes pictures. Helps with the ranch. But she makes it all look so easy and fun. I’ve copied down lots of recipes from her website and they’ve all been delicious. Anyway, she’s written a couple books and I really love looking at her site when I get the time. Her name is Ree Drummond.

Back to our trip. So we see the horses. And we’re driving down the road looking at the endless “expanse” when we see a gate with a ranch title over it. And there it was.

Drummond Ranch.

Ahhhh! I saw the Pioneer Woman’s ranch! Not the house or anything, but the land itself! It was just cool, especially since as I said earlier, Oklahoma is kind of a big place. What in the world are the chances that we’d drive past her driveway? So fun.

Let me just say, Pioneer Woman was not exaggerating about living in the middle of nowhere. I decided that’s why she comes up with so many awesome recipes. You have to have variety in your food and when there’s nowhere within twenty miles (thirty, forty, fifty…) to go out to eat? Well, there you go.

And to sum up our feelings on Oklahoma, as stated so uniquely and eloquently by my dad. “Oklahoma’s okay.”

Nah, that song lyric quoting ( or misquoting) isn’t hereditary at all…